It was a boost to see a good demand for South Devon breeding cattle at Exeter Livestock Centre, when the Cattle Breeders’ Club annual sale saw a total clearance of their catalogue of 62 pedigree and grading up South Devons.

Consignments included offerings from the Billington, Colcharton, Cornworthy Court, Crowndale, Delhorn, Godworthy, Horridge, Rugwell, Sexton, and Trayhill herds; for which there were a number of new buyers joining in the bidding.

Five bulls sold, averaging £3,066, with the top price going to J A & Y J Hopkins’ polled bull Z Knightcote Tudor 6, a four year old polled bull bred by Hadley Farms and sired by Z Polkinghorne Tudor. He sold to J A Cuming & Sons, Moretonhampsted for 3,800 gns.

Fifteen cows with calves at foot averaged £1,246 with a top price of 1,300 gns four times. 1,500 gns was achieved twice for served heifers, both from T F Gostling and selling to Mr B Lynds from Holsworthy.

Maiden heifers, though, took the top prices for females, with a particularly strong consignment of seven heifers from G K & M A Garrett & Son. Those over two years of age peaked at 1620 gns for Billington Elizabeth’s Guilder; and those under two years topped at 1750 gns for Billington Barton’s Goulash. All sold to Mr G Hockridge, Okehampton, Devon.